Unspoken rules. Invisible barriers. Exhausting double standards.
In this compelling episode, Dr. Arin N. Reeves joins host Natalie Luke, PhD, to unpack the hidden dynamics that hold women and underrepresented professionals back—especially in leadership. Drawing on decades of research and personal experience, Arin explores how to navigate microaggressions, exclusion, and manipulation without losing your mind— or your career.
If you've ever felt like you're playing by a rulebook no one handed you, this conversation is your guide to owning your power, protecting your energy, and outsmarting the system from the inside.
🔍 What We Cover:
- The invisible workplace rules that shape career outcomes
- Why emotional labor falls disproportionately on women
- How to respond to microaggressions and subtle exclusion
- The danger of trying to “prove” your value in a toxic environment
- Why intuition is a legitimate form of data
- How to find the real allies (and spot the enablers)
- Arin’s favorite disarming phrase that ends arguments instantly
- What to do when DEI gets stripped away—but bias remains
🛠️ Tools + Takeaways:
- Arin’s 10-Question Game Plan to deal with liars, gaslighters, and gatekeepers
- Practical advice on how to amplify other women in meetings
- The power of strategic silence—and the phrase: “You’re right.”
- Building networks that neutralize toxic power
📚 Resources Mentioned:
- 📖 Smarter Than a Lie by Dr. Arin N. Reeves
- 📖 In Charge: The Energy Management Guide for Women
- 💻 Learn more at nexions.com
👩💼 About Dr. Arin N. Reeves:
Dr. Arin Reeves is a sociologist, researcher, and author specializing in workplace culture, leadership, and inclusion. She is the President of Nextions, a leadership consulting firm that helps organizations build smarter, more inclusive systems. Arin has worked with Fortune 500 companies, law firms, universities, and nonprofits to support meaningful and measurable change.
🎧 Subscribe & Follow:
If this episode spoke to you, please consider:
- ✨ Subscribing to UnCeiling You with Natalie Luke
- 💬 Leaving a review on Apple or Spotify
- 📩 Sharing this episode with a friend who’s navigating hidden workplace barriers
Mentioned in this episode:
Thrive in 25
Let's Thrive in 25. https://unceiling-you.captivate.fm/thrive-in25
Learn More at https://unceilingyou.com/
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